MB Government Sets Foundation for Education Policy and Appoints Education Minister After 10 Years
'Autonomy and Competition' Policy Line Maintained: "Allow Autonomy, Induce Development"
Emphasizes University Deregulation Reform: "Education Ministry Treated Like a Subordinate Agency"
Expresses Commitment to Addressing Education Gap and Promoting Kindergarten Integration
Ajuho, the candidate for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is arriving at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Candidate for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho has announced a major education reform. He stated his intention to boldly ease regulations related to universities while maintaining the existing principle of 'autonomy and accountability' in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education.
On the 30th, as Candidate Lee arrived at the hearing preparation office set up at the Education Facilities Safety Institute in Yeouido, Seoul, he told reporters, "I believe we are currently in a period of great upheaval in education. Many difficult issues need to be resolved," adding, "I think allowing maximum autonomy and freedom to education stakeholders is the best way to quickly induce desirable development in education."
During his tenure as Minister of Education under the MB government, Candidate Lee emphasized 'competition and autonomy' by designating a large number of autonomous private high schools through the 'High School Diversification Project' and implementing comprehensive academic achievement assessments.
Candidate Lee emphasized, "Autonomy must be accompanied by strengthened accountability. I worked on policies of autonomy and accountability during my term as minister, and even after leaving office, I have considered this principle important when researching on the global education stage, in academia, and when striving for bottom-up changes in civil society."
With the announcement of the high school system reform plan expected by the end of this year, the possibility of maintaining autonomous private high schools and foreign language high schools has increased. When he ran as a preliminary candidate for Seoul Superintendent of Education, Candidate Lee also expressed the position that autonomous private high schools should be maintained.
While emphasizing university regulatory reform and announcing major education reforms, he drew a line by stating that his stance differs from calls to abolish the Ministry of Education. Previously, Candidate Lee submitted a report advocating the abolition or downsizing of the Ministry of Education, proposing through the K-Policy Platform to transfer higher education affairs to the Prime Minister's Office and establish a tentative 'Ministry of Science and Technology Innovation Strategy.'
Candidate Lee said, "Among advanced countries, there is no country that treats universities as subordinate institutions like ours. Universities should be central institutions that give hope to youth and serve as regional hubs."
He continued, "I expressed the opinion that bold regulatory reform is necessary, but I am not advocating for the abolition of the Ministry of Education. The theory of abolishing the Ministry of Education and giving universities more freedom are different matters," he explained.
He also expressed his determination to focus on resolving educational disparities such as basic academic skills through his role as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs.
He said, "After the pandemic, the gap between social classes has widened, and I have seen reports that the number of students below basic academic skills has increased in the education sector," adding, "The narrow functions of the Ministry of Education alone are insufficient to resolve educational disparities, and creative policy development and implementation efforts at the whole-of-government level are necessary."
He added, "Recently, there has been talk about integrating early childhood education and care, and government roles are important to close gaps in this integration as well. There are many areas where inter-ministerial consultation and coordination are lacking, so I intend to work hard."
Regarding concerns that competitive education will worsen academic disparities, he said, "There are various new solutions that can be used to resolve educational disparities, and innovative methods such as AI education and IB are emerging," adding, "We will actively introduce these into schools so that each child can succeed and acquire the competencies needed for the future."
In his remarks upon nomination as minister, Candidate Lee said, "I am well aware that policies are neither created nor implemented in a vacuum. Therefore, drawing on my experience and lessons from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, as well as efforts made in academia, the global education community, and civil society since then, I will do my best to carry out this important mission."
Candidate Lee served as Vice Minister of Education, Science and Technology in 2009 and as Minister from 2010 to 2013, shaping the major framework of education policy under the MB government. Aligning with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has called for education reform since its inauguration, he is expected to implement education policies emphasizing competition, led by university regulatory reform. Candidate Lee has served as a professor at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management and as director of the KDI Education Reform Research Institute. Since 2004, he has been a member of the National Assembly for the Grand National Party, secretary of the Social, Education and Culture Subcommittee of the Transition Committee, and served as Senior Secretary for Education, Science and Culture at the Presidential Office during the Lee Myung-bak administration.
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